Automobile light control



Feb. 20, 1951 E. SAURI 2,

AUTOMOBILE LIGHT CONTROL Filed Feb. 8, 1949 G. E'JZZZLWZ:

INVENTOR I BY I 'll ATTORNEYS i Patented Feb. 20, 1951 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,542,211 AUTOMOBILE LIGHT CONTROL Guillermo E. Sauri, Mexico City, Mexico Application February 8, 1949, Serial No. 75,161

This invention relates to motor vehicle headlight controlling means designed for illuminating the road surface in the direction of travel of motor vehicles around curves, the switches controlling the circuits to the auxiliary lights of the system, being of the mercury type and controlled by the centrifugal force of the vehicle negotiating a curve in the road.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable switch which may be adjusted for operation to compensate for rough and irregular road surfaces which might otherwise cause the operation of the switches to illuminate the auxiliary lamps.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention a claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmental plan view illustrating auxiliary head lamps which are controlled by the system forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the wiring system.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the switch housing with the cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the switch and housing, with one of the side members of the switch housing removed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the switch housing in which the tubes 6 and 1, forming a part of the mercury switches, are mounted. These tubes 6 and I are secured at their inner ends by means of the clip 8, which is secured to the bottom 9 of the housing 5.

The clip 8 is formed with sockets that receive the inner ends of the tubes 6 and I to permit the tubes to move vertically and pivot within the clip 8.

Clips II are positioned-around the tubes 6 and 1 and are disposed adjacent to the outer ends of the device, the clips being connected with the adjusting screws l2 that extend through threaded openings in the bottom 9, with the result that as these adjusting screws are rotated, the normal angular position of the tubes 6 and l, with respect to the bottom 9, may be regulated.

The reference characters l3 and I4 indicate auxiliary head lamps which are mounted in any 1 Claim. (Cl. 200-152) desirable location at the front of the vehicle, the lamp l3 being in circuit with the terminals I5 in one end of the switch housing 5, which in turn are in circuit with contacts in the outer end of the tube 6, through the wires I6 and wire I'I, providing a circuit to the lamp I3. The reference character l8 indicates the ground wire of the circuit. The wire I9 that connects with the lamp I4 is in circuit with the terminals 20 in the opposite end of the switch housing, the terminals 20 being in circuit with contact points in the outer end of the tube 1, through the wires 2 I. The wire 22 provides a circuit from the source of electricity supply 23 to the contacts of the tubes 6 and I, there being provided a switch 24 in the circuit controlling the circuit. The ground wire from the battery is indicated by the numeral 25, while the ground wire from the lamp [4 is indicated by the reference character 26.

The switch housing may be mounted in any desirable place on the vehicle, preferably where the vehicle is level under normal conditions, so that the mercury in the tubes 6 and I will normally lie in the position as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawing.

It, follows that a motor vehicle equipped with the control mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention, will by the centrifugal force caused when making a turn in the rod to the right, throw the mercury in the tube 6 outwardly, completing the circuit to lamp l3, illuminating the road surface in the direction of travel of the vehicle, which is to the right.

When the vehicle has made the turn and assumes a level position on the street or road surface, the mercury in the tubes 6 and I will by gravity, assume the position shown by Fig. 4, breaking'the circuit, the auxiliary light being cut out.

If the motor vehicle negotiates a curve to the I left, the centrifugal force caused by the vehicle making the turn, will throw the mercury in tube 1 outwardly, completing the electric circuit to light the lamp [4, illuminating the road surface at the curve directly in the path of travel of the vehicle.

Should it be desired to operate the vehicle over an exceptionally rough road, it may be desirable to adjust the outer ends of the device by elevating them so that the jarring and movement of the vehicle passing over the irregular surface will not cause the mercury in the tubes 6 and l to move to complete the circuits to the auxiliary lamps while the vehicle is moving over a straight way section of the road.

Having thus described the invention, what is REFERENCES CITED damned 1S: The following references are of record in the A mercury control swltch comprising a swltch file of this patent: housing having a bottom member, a clip secured centrally of the bottom member, inclined mercury 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS switch tubes, the inner ends of said mercury tubes Number Name Date being pivotally held within the clip, clips secured 1,415,820 Eynon May 3, 1922 around said tubes adjacent to the outer ends 1,505,040 Laycock t 1 Aug 12, 1924 thereof, adjusting screws operating through open- 1,951,699 Lewis Mar. 20, 1934 ings in the bottom member, connected with the 10 2,067,057 Lawson Jan. 5, 1937 clips at the outer ends of the tubes, whereby the outer ends of said tubes are adjusted vertically, FOREIGN PATENTS regu1ating the operation of the tubes and switch. Number Country Date 271,731 Great Britain June 2, 1927 GUIILLERMO E. SAURI. 15 592,929 France May 11, 1925 

